Hawks win ninth straight

SULLY — The Lynnville-Sully Hawks (31-4) continued their impressive season on Tuesday evening when they took on South Iowa Cedar League foes in the North Mahaska Warhawks (16-10). Although some of the enthusiasm on the Hawks’ baseball diamond has stifled due to a disappointing season, much of that aforementioned enthusiasm has migrated over to the softball fields.

The Hawks won their ninth straight game with their 7-4 victory over the Warhawks, and even though they struggled more than usual for part of the game, their offensive aggression combined with Madison Rasmusson’s overall sharpness in the circle led the team to victory.

Rasmusson pitched all seven innings, giving up two earned runs on six hits. She was hit hard a couple times. but for the most part, Rasmusson was still dominant. She came up with plenty of big strikeouts to bail the team out of tough situations, and she also induced plenty of softly hit groundballs back to the circle, making it easier on herself and her defense.

The Warhawks threatened early. They put runners on second and third base with no outs in the top of the first inning when Michaela Heys came up to bat. Rasmusson was able to get Heys looking. She then popped up Carissa McBirnie and struck out Hayley LaRue to retire the Warhawks without allowing a run.

The Hawks would strike first in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, shortstop Shelby Davis hit a hot shot to center field for a base hit, advancing to second on a bad throw. Becca Vos then hit a knuckling ball out to shortstop that was bobbled and ultimately dropped, scoring Davis.

The Warhawks answered in the top of the third inning with two runs of their own. Back-to-back errors allowed a run to score, and with two outs, the Warhawks’ McBirnie singled through the left side of the infield to score a run.

The Hawks responded with a run in the bottom of the third. Rasmusson reached on a bunt single and advance to second due to some defensive miscommunication. Brenna Lanser sacrificed her over. Then Davis singled to tie the game.

L-S would take control in its next turn at-bat. Lysandra James singled on a ball that just crept inside the third base line to lead off the inning. She advanced to second on a wild pitch, and with two outs, a slap bunt single by Kasiah Ehresman drove in a run. Ehresman stole second, and an error on a ball hit by Rasmusson allowed her to score. Lanser hit an infield single to put runners at the corners. Davis stepped up and hit a scorching double off the left field fence to put the Hawks up by four runs at 6-2.

The Warhawks would threaten in the seventh inning, but Rasmusson got a popout to the catcher Vos to end the game.

L-S will search for its 10th straight win on Friday at Keota.